Getting care in Georgia without insurance

Georgia Medicaid and who can get it

In Georgia, you apply for Medicaid through the Division of Family and Children Services, called DFCS. Children, older adults and people with disabilities each have a separate Medicaid group.

Working-age adults without children are the group most often left out. Georgia has not adopted the full Medicaid expansion, which is the choice many states made to cover more adults with low incomes. KFF, a health policy research group, lists Georgia as a state that has not adopted it, as of October 2026. Georgia chose a different path.

What is Georgia Pathways to Coverage?

Georgia Pathways is a special Medicaid program for adults who do not qualify for regular Medicaid. The state lists these main rules for it.

• You must be age 19 through 64 and live in Georgia.
• Your household income must be at or below the federal poverty level. That is the yearly income amount the government uses to measure poverty.
• You must be a U.S. citizen or a non-citizen who is legally living in the United States.
• You must complete 80 hours a month of approved activities, and you report them when you apply and each year when you renew.

Approved activities include a job, job training, school or community service. Caring for a relative can count as community service. Pathways also counts being the parent or guardian of a child under six. These rules apply only to Pathways, not to regular Medicaid.

What changes in 2027

The Pathways website says the rules change on January 1, 2027. The income limit stays at the federal poverty level. The hours stay at 80 a month, but the list of approved activities changes.

Under the new rules, you can also qualify by earning at least $580 a month while staying under the poverty level.

Starting January 1, 2027, some people will not have to meet the 80-hour rule at all. This includes parents or caregivers of a child age 13 or younger, pregnant women and women in the 12 months after birth, and people who are medically frail. When you apply in 2027, you will need to show 80 hours of activity for the month before the month you apply. The state suggests keeping proof of your hours, such as pay stubs or school records, starting in December 2026.

People already in Pathways are not affected until their renewal in 2027. Rules can change again, so read the Pathways website or ask DFCS before you apply.

How to apply in Georgia

The main way to apply is Georgia Gateway, the state's online benefits website. You can also apply through Georgia Access, the state's own health insurance marketplace, or go to a DFCS office and ask for help. You can call DFCS at 877-423-4746, and the Pathways website lists a general information line at (404) 656-4507.

Applying for Georgia Pathways costs you nothing. If you are not sure you meet the rules, apply and let the state decide.

Other ways to get a plan or help

Georgia residents shop for Marketplace plans on Georgia Access, which replaced HealthCare.gov in Georgia starting with 2025 coverage. Many people get help paying the monthly cost. Our guide on what to do after losing insurance covers the sign-up window after a job loss, and our no-insurance guide gives the full picture.

Finding a community health center in Georgia

The Georgia Primary Care Association is the state group for community health centers, which charge by income and family size. The federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has a free Find a Health Center tool where you enter your city or zip code. Call the center and ask how to become a new patient and what to bring to show your income.

Our guide to community health centers explains how they work, and our guide to clinics and cash-pay doctors can help you choose.

How can I check that a Georgia doctor is licensed?

The Georgia Composite Medical Board has a free search called Verify a Licensee. It shows the license number and status, and the dates it was issued and expires. It also lists any public orders from the board, which are actions taken against a doctor. If there are none, the search says so.

You can find it by looking up the Georgia Composite Medical Board license verification on the web. Doing this before you join a practice takes only a few minutes.

Direct primary care in Georgia

With direct primary care, you pay a doctor a flat monthly fee for regular visits. Georgia has a direct primary care law, according to the Direct Primary Care Coalition. Our directory can help you look for a practice near you.

Direct primary care does not count as insurance. It does not cover emergency room visits, hospital stays or surgery. Our direct primary care guide lists what a membership usually includes.

Emergencies in Georgia

In a real emergency, do not wait. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room, which must examine and stabilize you under federal law even if you have no insurance. Our hospital financial assistance guide and our guide to emergency room visits without insurance explain how to handle the bill.